I don’t like being told what to do and what not to do. I was told not to write this post because, oh well, some people may view it as negative, or others may not want to be reminded of all the tough times they’ve had in their lives. Since I’m a contrarian by nature, that made me want to write it even more.

Listen, I’ve had my fair share of struggles in life. Health issues, romantic disappointments, work conflicts, financial difficulties, you name it. And I’m certain life will bring along many more challenges. We all have our ups and downs. What brings us together as a human race is that no one is immune to difficulties in life.

And thank God for that. What would we be without everything we’ve been through? We are who we are today thanks to everything we’ve experienced, good and bad. I certainly wouldn’t be as strong, flexible, and positive as I am now. Maybe I sound like a masochist, but I’m genuinely grateful for each moment in my life, both positive and negative. And you should be too. The saying goes “That which does not kill us makes us stronger”. And no, that’s not just a line people tell you to make you feel better. It’s real. It’s true. It’s been scientifically proven.

Why you shouldn’t put your head down in the face of difficulty:

• Research has shown that small amounts of trauma can actually make us more resilient. Of course there are certain traumatic life events that can have a psychologically long term damaging effect and probably require proper medical help. But some struggles can aid in developing coping mechanisms to better face these situations or similar ones in the future. I’ve dealt with difficult people at work back in Europe; they literally made my life a living hell, and I would come back home every day with tears in my eyes. Well you know what? No one can do that to me anymore. I’m grateful for that low class French analyst that used to pick on me in Paris. I hope she’s doing well, wherever she is.
• Certain situations help us grow as individuals and mature. We suddenly realize that us too, aren’t exempt from pain. We tend to think bad things only happen to others but actually they happen to everyone. It’s humbling in a way, don’t you think?
• Hardships can sometimes surprise you in making you realize just how strong you really are. I’m often impressed with the amount of stress I can handle whereas I used to think of myself as too sensitive or fragile. I’m actually a kick-ass woman. When one of my boyfriends cowardly cheated on me, I thought it was the end of the world. It took me a good year to properly heal and move on. Now I realize that sometimes things don’t happen the way you want them to because that’s the way it should be; something better is waiting for you. I now shrug off any romantic disappointment with the sole certainty that I’ll be redirected to a better situation eventually.
• Tough times help you distinguish between real and fake friends. It’s amazing the number of people I’ve simply eliminated from my life due to their negative energy or complete lack of compassion. They simply weren’t there for me when they should have. And they weren’t even sorry about it. It’s also extraordinary how many of your friends turn out to be angels in disguise. I have a handful of genuine friends that run to my side in Dubai at the slightest sniffle. Call me cheesy but it truly brings tears of joy to my eyes. Angels are everywhere; all you need is a life event to make you realize who they are.

Always be compassionate. That’s the golden rude I abide by. You may not particularly like someone or stand their company. However, they may be going through their own struggles just as you. Everyone in life is fighting a battle in their own way. Find solace in knowing that we always come out at the other end, stronger and more resilient than we were the day before. Count your blessings and enjoy every moment in your life.